Pediatric Psychiatry & Psychology

Comprehensive Support for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Conditions

Loyola Medicine provides comprehensive pediatric psychiatry and psychology services for children, adolescents and teens with emotional and behavioral problems.

Our program offers integrated child- and family-centered care in a supportive environment to help children build healthier relationships with their family, friends and community.

Loyola’s specialists provide diagnostic assessment, therapy, psychopharmacological evaluations and medication management to treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

Loyola’s dedicated board-certified psychiatrists, psychologists and pediatricians work with a team of social workers, recreational therapy specialists, speech therapists and occupational and physical therapists in collaboration with the Loyola Medicine Children’s Hospital at Loyola University Medical Center.

Your child’s healthcare team will address his or her individual needs and coordinate care with your child’s pediatrician. Under your direction, your child’s doctor can provide education and resources to aid your child’s school in managing his or her care during the school day.

In an effort to support children with emotional and behavioral problems, along with their families, Loyola’s team offers individual, family and group counseling, parenting education classes and grief counseling.

In addition, we provide help with pain management, behavioral problems, medical illness coping skills and palliative or end-of-life care. Our staff has experience in helping parents implement a positive, supportive parenting approach called Smart Love™.

Why Choose Loyola for Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology?

Loyola is committed to the compassionate diagnosis and care of our young patients with emotional and behavioral problems. Loyola’s pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists are specially trained in the treatment of children and provide care in a compassionate, family-friendly environment. We are actively engaged in research to find new and better treatments for children with emotional and behavioral problems.

Loyola’s pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists know that mental illness can be life-altering for children and their families. We provide advanced care in an academic setting, training future leaders in pediatric mental health.

Our highly experienced nurses have earned Magnet status, the highest designation for nursing.

At Loyola, we understand the importance of continuity of care and will provide seamless communication with your child’s pediatrician through our secure medical information portal, LoyolaConnect. You can also access results from your child’s lab tests and evaluations through myLoyola.

We want you to feel comfortable asking any questions you may have about your child’s condition or treatment options. Your child’s healthcare team will address all of your concerns and make your child’s care our number one priority.

How are Pediatric Emotional and Behavioral Problems Diagnosed?

Children experiencing emotional and behavioral issues may have headaches, stomach aches and have trouble sleeping. They may also regress to behaviors such as tantrums, bedwetting and clinginess. Some children and adolescents decline in school performance or show signs of anxiety or depression.

The goal of Loyola’s pediatric mental health specialists is to provide a diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan for your child as soon as possible.

Seek care from a Loyola mental health provider if your child is exhibiting symptoms that include:

• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Anxiety
• Decline in school performance
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleep and appetite disturbances
• Social isolation
• Social issues

When seeking support from a Loyola mental health specialist, you will be asked to fill out a standardized questionnaire. Your child’s doctor will conduct an extensive interview to determine what may be causing recent symptoms.

We will take a thorough personal and medical history, in part to determine if your child is suffering from side effects of medications or if there is a family history of mental illness.

Your child’s doctor also may request lab tests, scans or other imaging studies to rule out other possible medical causes. The doctor may also conduct these evaluations:

• Developmental assessment
• Neuropsychological assessment
• Psychiatric assessment
• Psychological assessment
• Speech/language assessment

How are Pediatric Emotional and Behavioral Problems Treated?

Treatment for emotional and behavioral problems will depend on your child’s condition and may include:

• Counseling, including individual, child-parent and group counseling
• Medications, including stimulants, antidepressants, anti-anxiety prescriptions, antipsychotics or mood stabilizers

At Loyola, your child’s doctor will tailor a plan for his or her unique needs and will weigh the options with you. In addition to providing timely and comprehensive treatment for your child’s condition, our goal is to provide education and support for your child and your family through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.